The ORAO case, a short reminder of the events

Bijeljina - On Oct. 11, 2002 SFOR troops completed an unannounced inspection of the ORAO factory complexes in Bijeljina, located in Northeastern part of Republika Srpska. The inspection was conducted as part of the General Framework Agreement for Peace, as implemented by the Instruction to Parties. This document requires SFOR to monitor weapons, weapon components, their movement, storage, manufacture and repair.

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Cajnice: the future belongs to the children

Cajnice - "The future of this community is in the hands of the new generations. As long as the will of building a better future exists it will be possible to implement it. I'm telling you this as the Commander of the German Italian Battle Group and as a father: our aid to these children will last forever." This was the meaningful message given by Col. Marcello Bellacicco.

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Operation 'Flying Yeti'

Avtovac - For the first time since the creation of the Spanish-French Battle Group (SPFR BG), part of Multinational Brigade Southeast, the control of Border Crossing Points (BCP) has been conducted with snowshoes in the Gacko area, at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,800 metres. The patrol took off in a Spanish 'Cougar' helicopter from Mostar; after a 30-minute flight, they were ready to begin the mission.

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Mirko, Peace Inc.

Banovici - The party doesn't start for more than an hour but children of Banovici line the sidewalks in anticipation outside the doors of the local youth centre. The anxious revellers wait for a fun-filled evening of music, dancing, and karaoke sponsored by SFOR, in support of Mirko magazine. Mirko, was introduced to the children of Bosnia and Herzegovina seven years ago to encourage peace and tolerance for all.

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Accident strengthens Dutch and Slovakian ties

Bugojno - It's been over two months since a Slovakian MI-17 (HIP) crashed in the area of Travnik (See SFOR Informer No 156, dated Jan. 23, 2003). A lot has happened since Dec. 24. The wounded pilots have returned home, the wreckage has been taken away and reports have been written. The second HIP went to Slovakia for maintenance and has returned.

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The celebration of real men

Ugljevik -The Russian military contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rather rich seven-year history. Their story began in 1996, Jan. 5, when the 1st Russian Separate Airborne Brigade, 1,500 soldiers strong, deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In the year 2000, the national flag replaced the banner of the unit. That's why every Russian soldier here assumes the responsibilities of a deserved representative of his country.

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Driven towards safety on the roads

Camp Butmir - Let us keep it simple. The greatest risk by far to SFOR members is road traffic accidents. According to the Mine Information Co-ordination Cell, there have been less than 135 injuries to SFOR members due to mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) since the beginning of IFOR. That is over eight years elapsed time. In one year (2002) alone, SFOR has suffered 59 accidents.

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Building searched in response to threats

Rajlovac - An apartment building on an SFOR route. Nothing unusual - at first sight. But things are not quiet as they seem. The fact is that SFOR soldiers on patrol have been shot at several times from this building, most recently on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Since this poses a definite threat to SFOR personnel, orders were issued for the building to be searched. The apartment in question is on the second floor, and this complicates matters.

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Joint Resolve: Weapons cache discovery

Bosanska Dubica - On the evening of Wednesday Feb. 19, members of SFOR's Multinational Specialised Unit (MSU) uncovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition in a rural area east of Bosanska Dubica. The find included twenty three MG 42 medium machine guns, two rifles, a number of mines and some 2000 rounds of ammunition of a variety of calibre.

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Joint Resolve: a multinational exercise

Suica - To be able to respond to different types of threats, SFOR soldiers also train during their mission. One of the exercises was an exchange between the three Multinational Brigades. During 'Joint Resolve 28', several units from Multinational Brigade North and Multinational Brigade Southeast were put under the command of Multinational Brigade Northwest.

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Bajram activities for the Turkish Battalion

Zenica - From Feb. 11 to 13, 2003, the Turkish Battalion Task Force participated in Bajram activities in Zenica and performed a food aid in their Area of Responsibility. The goal was to make a favour for the religious celebration by helping poor people, especially the ones who live in Displaced Persons' camps. It also demonstrated SFOR takes part in supporting social life as well.

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Happy Kurban Bajram from the Turkish soldiers

Islam celebrates two great festivals annually, Aid-el-Fitr and Aid-El-Adha. The first is the one that follows the month of Ramadan, when the fast is broken. The second occurs about two months later when a sheep is sacrificed. The Turkish soldiers of today, stationed in Zenica, a predominantly Muslim area, celebrated the holy day of 'Kurban Bajram' close to the local population.

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Soldier in the spotlight

Currently, Slovenian Staff Sgt. Iztok Logar is assigned to the Military Police in the Portuguese Battalion, Multinational Battle Group, Multinational Division North. He is a 31-year Staff Sgt. of the Slovenian contingent in Camp Dannevirke in Doboj. He was born in 1971 in Kranj, but now he lives with his wife and two children in Ziri, a small city in the centre of Slovenia.

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